Doctor Who 'Rosa': review

Whittaker's Doctor travels to a racially-prejudiced 1950's America, in another humorous and compelling episode for the series

Thank goodness segregation has ended... 'Rosa' (BBC)

by Jack Linsdell

Jodie Whittaker's timelord is starting to become settled with audiences now, as tonight saw the premier of her third outing in 1950's racially-charged America in 'Rosa'. Written by the scribe of the first two instalments and series showrunner Chris Chibnall, along with author Malorie Blackman (a name in-keeping with the episode's main theme), the episode has a simple narrative. 

Namely, the Doctor and her gang find themselves transported back in time, to before the Black Civil rights movement of the mid-1950's and have to prevent an prison escapee from the future (like them) from altering time to prevent activist Rosa Parks protesting against segregation on buses (which led to the civil rights movement, arguably). The episode's simplistic narrative structure, lack of any real "sci-fi" elements or villains and deeply-focussed historical setting and theme make it feel refreshing as another adventure in the twelfth doctors tenure. Yes, if this continues as the series progresses, then there might be a problem, however for a one-off style for an episode it does not harm to mix things up a bit. Indeed, there is no real action spectacle or increase in pace, however I strangely wasn't bored at any point and the climatic scene when they wonder if their plan to stop the alterations of history is going to work is tense. And, it's nice to see a truly character-based drama that doesn't need to rely on spectacle or thrills to entertain.

The dynamic between the team and the Doctor is still being nicely developed, with reference made once again to the death of Bradley Walsh's wife in episode one and how each of the characters is being driven by their own emotional arcs. However, this episode - with its themes of racism - allow us to see more of Mandip Gill and Tosin Cole for the first time which is really good. There struggles as modern-day Black people to the racism and prejudice in 1950's America is an interesting dynamic (like when Cole is forced to sit away from the others in the coloured section of the bus). However, the humour is scarce (although considering the heavy nature of the content matter that may be a respectful move) and the Doctor doesn't feel like the driving force of the episode. This may be the episodes biggest strength and weakness.

Indeed, the episode's focus on Rosa Parks and depicting the harsh and disturbing blatant racism in society at the time is very compelling and important. There are some standout scenes, that carry strong performances, tension and emotional weight, like when the Police Officer searches for Cole and Gill's characters in the motel room Whittaker's timelord has temporarily booked out. As a drama, the audience really feels like they've been transported to a different country and time period, which is the basis of entertainment. It poses important questions about how far we've come as a society and that still today ethnic minorities feel marginalised by "white people" (think Brexit and anti-immigration). And, the acting is exceptional by both the Black characters as victims and the white actors playing prejudiced/racists. 

However, if there is one criticism this causes then it is that the episode has less focus on Doctor Who and although there were occasionally strong scenes where the Doctor challenged characters who upset her with their racism, she was largely redundant or underused in comparison to the level she normally is. 

Visually, the cinematic look is still effective here, and the production values for real period props, cars and buses is something nice to see. Normally, the high budget is spread so thinly over the whole series that sometimes episodes can be left "short-changed" and grand ideas have had to endure visual compromise. That is not the case here, maybe because it's only episode three, but nonetheless, the high production values add to our immiscibility in the environment. 

In all, as a Doctor Who episode, this one is a weaker than the high point achieved from episode two as the timelord is left with little to do and there is very little thrills and sci-fi elements that fans expect from the series. However, it is another well-acted and simply-but-comprehensively written episode that opens the important discussions of racism and marginalisation which feels very relevant to today's key issues through exploring historical events and celebrating a key heroine of the civil rights movement. It stays true to and continues the exploration of the Doctor's gang and works nicely as an instalment in the series. Even with the criticisms of the episode, it isn't a "bad" one by any stretch - which means the series still has his head above water. 

As ever, we'll watch this space, and let's see what the spider-themed episode four has in its web for us...

3/5 STARS